The all-consuming job search, coupled with adorable baby daughter, doesn’t leave much time for blogging (or anything else, for that matter). But I did want to take a few minutes to explain how parenthood has alerted my wife and I to how gender identity is constructed through toys. Yes, that’s right, toys.
Here we are, enjoying an episode of House (if memory serves), when a commercial for the PlaySkool Rose Petal Cottage comes on. Seems innocent enough at first–think detailed play house. Now imagine the look of horror that grows on my wife’s face as the advertisement shows a happy little girl learning how to: cook, clean, arrange the furniture, and put laundry in the washing machine. That’s the real clincher: just as the add says something like: “watch your little girl’s imagination grow” it shows the little girl stuffing clothes into the Rose Petal Washer (sold separately, of course).
Sigh.
As ideologically disturbing as the ad was, I must admit some enjoyment at watching my wife’s face turn from disinterest, to awe, to moral outrage (for those who don’t know, my wife won’t allow anything Disney in the house since in their moives women are allowed only two courses: death or finding a man). I think, as the years roll on, Christmas is going to be fun, if only because I can totally see my dad thinking this would be a great present…
